Saturday, October 20, 2012

Fear...

You've clicked on this post because you saw the title, right?

Fear...

Blogging is a wonderful thing...you can write about anything and share it with anyone who is willing to read it. Sew Many Ways is about crafting, organizing and sewing, but the title does say "a place to find more than just sewing".  I have been writing Sew Many Ways for almost year 4 years. I have readers and friends from the very beginning and new followers even today. Most of you I have never met before, but just to let you know,  I write and post as I live my life... I always try to be optimistic, my glass is "always" half  FULL, I appreciate even the littlest thing I have in life. Being positive is pretty much how I "try" live my life.

"Try" is the word though. Am I always successful? NO, because fear can steal your positive in a second. What is fear exactly? According to dictionary.com, fear is...

"a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain etc., whether the threat is real or imagined..."

We all have fears. I can't even begin to write about fear itself and I won't even try...we all know deep down inside what we fear. Well, I had a little tiny fear get the best of me these past three weeks. Why am I sharing this with all of you? Because sometimes we need a kick in the pants, to wake us up to see that fear is just an emotion, mostly imagined...as described in the definition. An emotion that we can control or it will control us.



Here's the short story. I've had lots of medical test lately. Nothing serious at all...you know, getting old stuff. When the doctor said gall bladder and endoscopy, I pretty much applied for my AARP card LOL!!! I have never feared anything in the medical world EVER, except for getting an IV. I had one bad experience 24 years ago and have never needed another IV until yesterday. I'm not even afraid of needles...I give blood, get flu shots etc. That one bad experience ruined me.

Well, I found this quote by Eleanor Roosevelt this morning while writing this post and had to share it.



This quote summed up what I did yesterday...."do the things which you think you cannot do". With a great deal of encouragement from my husband and my daughters, who called from college, I put on my big girl panties and did it...I looked fear in the face.

How did the IV go? It was awesome...I didn't even feel it. Thanks to the best nurses ever!! I feel so silly now, because fear ruined the last 3 weeks of me "thinking" about it.

Why did I share this with you? Well, I want you to do the same. Look your fears in the face and see that it is just that...a "feeling" and you can beat that feeling. Do what you think you cannot do.


No matter what it is...at least try. Take a deep breath. Come on, you can do it...I know you can.

If this helps just one person reading this post...then it was worth writing.

I really hope you have a great day,
~Karen~

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55 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing---just what I needed to hear.
    Hugs, Anita

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  2. Good for you Karen! Wonderful quote from Eleanor Roosevelt - one that should be framed on all our walls.

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  3. Great post! Did the endoscopy thing...with fear. No reason...piece of cake. Great advice! You are so right. Thank you for this post!!!!

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    1. I'm another that needs the old kick in the pants when it comes to medical procedures. Thanks for sharing.

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  4. Hi Karen, fear can be paralysing if we let it but sometimes you just can't help it! I have had the same few weeks of fear with things going off and in the end I decided not to let it bother me, what will be will be and fear needs to be laughed at and let go. Thanks for writing this, sometimes you feel you are the only one feeling like this and it is good to know you are not. Have a great weekend, Susie x

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  5. Thanks for the great post. I try to live my life by the motto "Choose to be Happy." So many people spend so much time searching for happiness, but I firmly believe that everyone has the power to choose to feel it. But the one thing that can counteract it is fear. I can totally related about the fear of an IV. I had a really bad experience a few years ago, but I've had lots of IVs, so that one experience wasn't so weighty for me. One of my fears was the dentist--I noticed that when I would have work done, I would start shaking. I was so embarrassed because I wasn't thrilled to be there, but I really wasn't too scared. I figured I must be more scared than I was realizing. Finally, I told my dentist. He told me that the novacaine can make people shake. All that time I thought I was scared, but I really wasn't so much. What a relief. The lesson for me was to communicate. The right communication can go far to eliminate fears, too.

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  6. Good for you for facing that IV head on! Hugs!!

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  7. Glad whatever it was went well. I'm kind of a coward and have a hard time getting out of my comfort zone but I certainly admire those who can! I'll work on it just for you.

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  8. Good post. At least we know we are living our life to the fullest if we feel all emotions....happiness to fear. I am a glass half full gal myself. I am having foot surgery soon...so I can feel that fear slowly trying to weasel into my life...GET
    BACK!!!!!

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  9. So sorry to hear you struggled with this but glad to also hear you were able to overcome it with the support of your wonderful family as well as your inner strength. Sometimes, if we reach deep inside ourselves we find that reserved strength to draw on. Some, unfortunately, don't recognize they have it.

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  10. Well done Karen, you ARE strong. And the more you face your fears the easier they become - your comfort zone really does grow bigger. For me, I often find the anticipation of something unpleasant is much worse than the event itself (the only exception being labour - hah, that was a doozy I couldn't have appreciated the first time!) I work myself up so much in my mind that by the time the event comes I am almost HAPPY to be doing it because I just want the bloody thing over and done with so I can relax again. Sometimes I can be a Class A worrier.
    And the IV thing - I once agreed to let a student nurse do mine - after 4 attempts at the cannula I interrupted him and said, sorry love, but that's quite enough. I felt I had done my part for science!

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  11. Well said! Bravo to you for being so mindful in the midst of fear.
    I am so glad you are well.
    <3 Christina

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  12. What a great post ... Fear can get the best of anyone ... I just had my eye removed 2wks ago .... There was a whole whack of fear with that ... some validated ... but most of it ... Was all pretty irrational :)

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  13. Great post! This is so true in life in general, not just for yucky medical things. Thanks for sharing this! :0)

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  14. Good Afternoon Karen, Well done for facing your fear. I am a relatively new blogger and my daughter and son in law encouraged me for 2 years, yes 2 years to start a blog. I didn't want to, well I did really but was scared, to begin my blog. I thought no one will be interested in what I write. Then my daughter said something to me which really clicked she said, "Do you know mum, there's nothing to fear, but fear itself, there's no actual reason why you can't begin writing your blog, the fear is making you feel as if you can't start your blog" and she was right. I faced my fear, my blog is growing and I am learning everyday how to improve my blog and to think I was just too scared to begin. Looking back I realise how silly I was. So I do understand about facing your fear. Have a lovely day, Best Wishes Daphne

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  15. Sometimes the anticipation of what we fear is worse than the fear itself. I'm glad things went well for you and I hope that is the end of testing for a while. It's heck getting old, isn't it? I wish the age I 'felt' matched my age in numbers. :) I learned a lot about conquering fear from my Marine son.

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  16. Thanks for this post Karen. I normally have my smear test done every year but this time have put it off for 5 years in the fear that as I've left it so long something untoward may be found. You're absolutely right. I'm going to make that appointment.

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  17. Karen so great that you share so much. My feelings were brought to surface reading this about dentists and yet, I have had the 2 most amazing dentists over the past 25 years. Stems like yours from bad memories with an Army dentist when I was a child. Love your blog!

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  18. I need to read something like this today. Thankss. Have a nice day.

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  19. Great post Karen. I faced fear 25 years ago with breast cancer and now finally in the past few years only I can talk and write about it. Whew...I just typed it.

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  20. Thank you. It is all to easy to let fear make us captives.

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  21. Oh my goodness, I so needed this. My life has been in turmoil the last 2 1/2 months because someone betrayed me. I am absolutely heartbroken. My normal way of handling things haven't been working for me and I live in fear that my life will never be the same again. Thank you for posting this. Makes me feel better.

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  22. Thank you so much for this post. I am facing a complete and total life change right now. My job, my family and my health are forcing changes in every aspect of my world. To say I'm scared and fearful is an understatement. :)

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  23. Hi, I enjoyed this post even though I thought it was going to be..."fear of cutting into that really good fabric or something along those lines. Wonderful quote. You are right. Fear robs you!

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  24. I'm glad you overcame your fear of IV's and faced your fear with bravery, and that all went well. Sometimes we also forget what happened a long time ago was then---things change and improve, hopefully for the better, and with modern medicine many things have changed. Thank you for the great quotes too. I hope whatever is wrong medically gets resolved, and you feel better soon.

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  25. Thank you for the reminder to face our fears. We can all use this in our daily lives and in our long term plans. We all have personal hurdles that we would like to jump over if we can just gather up our skirts and JUMP!!! So proud of you for facing your fears :) Have a wonderful weekend!

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  26. Excellent advice! I loved your post especially because I tend to go overboard in the fear department over the silliest things. The really big scary stuff not a problem. My hubby thinks I am a bit crazy and he's right! Next time I feel fear cropping up I hope I think of your post and shoo it away.

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  27. What a wonderful and inspiring post. Fear can be so disabling. I am glad you conquered one of your fears.
    That getting old stuff...I hear you! I recently turned 60 and had to have more routine tests, immunizations and blood work than ever before. Luckily all was well and I am expected to live into my 90's. Now let's hope I can do it with grace and dignity.

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  28. Dear Karen! I have read that quote many times over the last 8 years & it has always strengthened me. It seems there is always some little fear out to get us, doesn't it? But, we are stronger than we think & I have to remind myself of it all the time. I'm so glad you are here.

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  29. Me sucedió exactamente lo mismo y sentí exactamente lo mismo!

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  30. So glad you got past the fear and on with your life. Several years ago I needed a hip replacement and I put it off for an extra year of horrible pain because I have clautiphobia and I was afraid to have an MRI, not surgery just the MRI. The really stupid part was because of the fear I didn't even go to the specialist and when I did I didn't even need an MRI. Duh. The hip replacement was the best thing I ever did for myself.

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  31. I needed to read this today. Thank you.

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  32. You are certainly not along. Going outside is hard enough for me, but Wednesday it's to the dentist. They are cleaning my teeth and starting to grind away for a cap all in the same day. Why? they are afraid I'll not make it in again.....grin.

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  33. Karen.. This post is perfect for me too! I tend to fear fear itself! I limit myself to so many things living here in a new place. I fear the people I would come in contact with because I do not trust them. How did I get to this point?

    I moved away from my comfort place in 2003 and have been moving inward ever since. I do not get out very often and that is not like me at all. I am a people person and when I go home to Alabama, my old self takes over and I feel alive once again.

    Then I get back here and I shut myself in once again...I feel trapped... even getting my gun out in the wee hours of the morning when my hubby leaves for work before daylight. I hate living like this.

    I don't know how to break away from it..

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  34. Thank you. We all need that reminder. I love the Eleanor Roosevelt quote.

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  35. good for you, now you can erase the first memory. And of course you're right about FEAR.

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  36. So happy you had an easy IV. Most nurses just have the knack for it. Fear does get the better of us.

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  37. We're all vulnerable and get scared. We just don't like to admit it. Thank you for having the guts to admit it.

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  38. Great post. About 2 years ago I found out that I had cysts on my pancreas which is not a good thing. It was also discovered that I had 2 small tumors in my stomach that were removed. I have MRI's every 3 months and Endoscopic Ultrasound every 6 months. At first fear paralyzed me but I am so much stronger now. Everything is stable for now but I will have to be monitored for the rest of my life and I am ok with that. It's amazing how strong we really are and don't even know it.

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  39. Go Karen! So glad you kicked that fear to the curb! Great post! =)

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  40. You should be proud of yourself. I know how it is to face a fear. I was deathly afraid of bees. My eldest stepdaughter is a beekeeper. One day I suited up and visited the hive with her and realized how gentle they were. Afraid no more!.

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  41. Karen, Your post came at a great time. Nothing bad going on, just needed to hear this. Thanks sharing.
    Tammy

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  42. Good for you - its so hard to stand up to our fears and face them head on.

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  43. Good for you in beating your fear of IVs. I'm probably 15 years older than you, so I can tell you that getting older is not much fun medically. But you have to just keep your sense of humor and roll with it. I hate colonoscopy proceedures, but will not let that fear keep me from being healthy.

    Doro in TX

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  44. Thanks for this Karen, the timing couldn't have been better. I am facing a future of changes due to my husband battling a terminal illness, do I look forward to them HECK NO!! Did I think of any of this just over a year ago when we took our vows NOT ON YOUR LIFE!! But the love we have will get me through this, my Heavenly Father will hold me up and my husband promised never to leave me once he is my guardian angel!! (I told him that needs to be his one and only request upon entering heaven!)

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  45. Wonderful blog, great post. Yes, the medical profession, (retired nurse) can sometimes be fearful, frustrating and just ignorant of others' feelings. You are correct we are to look fear in the face and trust in our Heavenly Father. I haven't had medical ins. for 5 years or more. Next year I'll be 65 and hope to see a doctor, maybe...

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  46. Great post Karen! I love this quote from Eleanor Roosevelt.Good for you for staring your fear straight in the face,,not easy to do. My daughter lives her life like that. If something scares her, she jumps with both feet at it--has since she was a small child. I watch her in awe--she swears she got the trait from me, but I don't see it! LOL Glad you got your test over & done with.

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  47. Fear keeps us in bondage and robs us of the present moment and the joy and peace and calm that we will feel when we remain in the moment. I'm glad you looked your fear in the face and overcame it. And thanks for sharing. You may never know just how many people you have inspired to do that same.

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  48. Thank you so much, Karen. This is exactly what I needed to read this morning. Love the Eleanor quote.
    I'm glad to hear your test went well.

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  49. Karen - I am one of your new followers now that I am retired and have time to indulge in fixing up a bedroom to be my sewing studio and found your fabulous helpful tips. Today's blog post really resonated and I want to thank you so much. I faced similar fears last June when I had a total knee replacement and it went so well that I can put that behind me. If I have to have another will I be irrationally fearful of everything connected with surgery? No I won't. And now, with retirement, I have opportunities to share my talents and time with a variety of organizations. Will shyness prevent me from putting myself out there? No. I'll think about Eleanor Roosevelt, thanks to your reminder. I will have a good day! Thanks.

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  50. Can I just say, "Amen!?"

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  51. Karen
    I really needed to read this today. Thanks for articulating what we needed to hear and thanks for the excellent Eleanor Roosevelt quote. And to share a quote for from Winston Churchill "Never, never give up!"

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  52. Hi Karen, I appreciate the love that you show on the blog with all of us, your tutorials and articles are of great quality and respect for the reader.
    Phases difficulties all we have and thank you have shared with us.
    Your mind can not tell what is past and present, reality and fantasy. And if this persists your thinking, your mind will believe it as real.
    But there's another word that I love, faith, and this is what I believe in and I stand firm. Next week, on Monday 29, my husband will do a cardiac procedure, and it are will done the will of God.
    god bless

    Silvia
    http://tearpiaocupacional.blogspot.com.br/

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  53. This post encouraged me. I have quite a few fears (although not as many as in the past!) and I really don't like to confront them. But I need to confront them, because that's what diminishes their power.

    Thanks.

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  54. Great post. I always try to be Happy. I mean if I can't make myself smile who else will. Okay maybe there's a few people who will but...
    IV's are not my friend. My veins roll or spit them out. So it's a fear I face but I'm not Happy or colorful. I'm white and sweaty but hey my language tends to get colorful from the pain. LOL
    Glad all went well for you.

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